Cessna 150H accident near Tok, Alaska, August 31, 2024
On August 31, 2024, a Cessna 150H, registered N41WP, was substantially damaged in an accident during maneuvering near Tok, Alaska. It was a personal flight under general aviation rules (Part 91). 2 people were seriously injured. The weather was visual conditions (good weather).
The NTSB's probable cause their words, unchanged
The airplane’s encounter with gusting winds resulting in a loss of altitude with performance insufficient to outclimb terrain.
Source: NTSB aviation accident database, copy made October 5, 2026. Docket and reports at the NTSB.
What the record shows
- Date
- August 31, 2024
- Place
- Tok, Alaska · map
- Type
- Accident
- Injuries
- 2 people were seriously injured.
- Weather
- visual conditions (good weather)
- Aircraft
- Cessna 150H · all 150Hs on the register
- Registration
- N41WP · registry record · serial 15068019
- Damage
- Substantial damage
- Flight
- Personal flight · general aviation rules (Part 91)
The NTSB's narrative final · quoted from the NTSB record
The pilot reported that, while flying in a valley, he realized that his airplane did not have the climb performance to clear an upcoming ridgeline. The pilot began a left turn to exit the valley in the direction he had entered. The pilot reported that, during the turn, he encountered a gust of wind that caused his left wing to drop and his rate of turn to increase. During the attempted recovery, the airplane lost altitude and impacted terrain which resulted in substantial damage to the wings and fuselage. The pilot reported that there were no preaccident mechanical failures or malfunctions with the airplane that would have precluded normal operation.
The complete narrative as the NTSB published it. The NTSB's docket holds the report as a PDF and any photographs, statements and other documents from the investigation.
The factual record from the NTSB's investigation tables, in plain English
What happened, in order
- Collision with terrain or object (not controlled flight into terrain) during maneuvering defining event
The NTSB's findings
- Personnel issues › Task performance › Use of equip/info › Aircraft control › Pilot
- Environmental issues › Conditions/weather/phenomena › Wind › Gusts › Contributed to outcome
- Aircraft › Aircraft oper/perf/capability › Performance/control parameters › Climb rate › Not attained/maintained
Pilot
- Certificate: airline transport pilot, military
- Ratings: multi-engine land; single-engine land; single-engine sea; instrument: airplane; instrument: helicopter; rotorcraft: helicopter
- Flight time: 935 hours in all; 101 in this make and model; 290 as pilot in command
- Last flight review: July 30, 2024
- Medical certificate: Class 2 (without waivers/limitations)
- Seat: left
- Injury: serious injuries
Passenger
- Seat: rgt
- Injury: serious injuries
The aircraft
- Airframe total time: 3,246.2 hours
- Last inspection: annual inspection, August 15, 2024
- Maximum gross weight: 1,600 lb
- Seats: 2
- Landing gear: fixed
- Engine: Continental Engine O-200-A48B (piston); 1,989 hours total
The flight
- Departed from: PAAQ Palmer AK at 9:30 pm
- Destination: PAGK Gulkana AK
- Flight plan: none
Weather at the time
- Light: daylight
- Wind: from 150° at 9 knots, gusting 16
- Visibility: 10 statute miles
- Sky: broken clouds at 10,000 ft; scat
- Temperature: 64°F (18°C), dew point 32°F (0°C)
- Altimeter: 29.83 inHg
- Observation at 3:56 pm from PFTO, 50 miles away
Weather report (METAR): PFTO 302356Z AUTO 18006KT 10SM CLR 18/00 A2983 RMK AO2 SLP749 T01830000 10183 20122 58012 $
Injuries
| Fatal | Serious | Minor | None | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flight crew | 1 | |||
| Passengers | 1 |
Photographs from the investigation 3 pictures from the NTSB's docket, as the NTSB released them
Photograph 1 – Image of fuselage, empennage, and right wing
Photograph 2 – Image of left wing and fuselage
Photograph 3 – Image of right wing, fuselage, and empennageThe NTSB's photographs with the NTSB's captions, at screen size. Open a picture to see it full size or to report one that should not be shown.
Documents from the investigation the NTSB's docket: the evidence folder behind the report
2 documents, released by the NTSB on May 12, 2025. View them here, or download them; the NTSB redacts some personal details before release, and this site shows the NTSB's own titles rather than its file names.
| # | Document | What it is | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Pilot/operator Aircraft Accident Report, NTSB Form 6120.1 | PDF, 11 pages | View Download |
| 2 | Photos | PDF, 4 pages · our copy | View Download |
The same docket at the NTSB · documents without a copy here are fetched from the NTSB when you open them.
Everything on this page comes from the NTSB's public records. The narrative, probable cause and findings are the NTSB's own words; the coded tables behind the report are written out in plain English, with pilots' ages, home towns and medical details left out. The documents and photographs are the NTSB's docket, shown as the NTSB released them. This site's own text never names anyone involved. A preliminary report can change; the final report usually follows one to two years later, and the page is refreshed when it does.